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As the election campaign winds predictably down to the election of yet another neoliberal government, we should remember the words of Morrissey and The Smiths.

MAYBE ALL the political parties got cold feet after the National Party's legal skirmish with Eminem, but none of their campaigns have prominently featured any music.

You think the various party campaigns were ripe for a soundtrack.

Bill English might have considered 'Don't Dream It's Over' by Crowded House (and got extra marks for using a New Zealand song) while relentlessly positive
Jacinda Ardern couldn't really go wrong with Mr Tony Bennett singing 'Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive.' But possibly ACT'S David Seymour would not want to use 'Nowhere Man' by The Beatles - even though it could
have been written with him in mind.

In stark contrast, American presidential campaigns always feature music. Last year Hillary Clinton's campaign team whipped up a Spotify playlist, which
was used at all her rallies.

Donald Trump though had trouble finding a song since groups like Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones objected to him using their music. He eventually went
for 'We're Not Going To Take It' by Twisted Sister.

Meanwhile Bernie Sanders campaign team had a liking for 'Starman' by David Bowie and 'America' by Simon and Garfunkel. And that all-time favourite socialist
anthem , 'This Land is Your Land' by Woody Guthrie, also got a regular airing.

But, despite all the media hype about this being a 'fascinating' and 'exciting' election campaign, it has actually been a grim affair all round. With Labour and National trying to out-centre each other, there has been little to get enthused about. The inevitable result will be the election of yet another neoliberal government.

I've found myself listening to The Smiths in recent days, a band that I've been fond of ever since my university days. I think that, in these days of darkness,
we have to remind ourselves that there is a light that never goes out.